How to Change the WhatsApp Ringtone (Android and iPhone)

When your phone rings and you can't tell whether it's WhatsApp, your sister or a customer, a different sound fixes it. WhatsApp lets you change the ringtone for incoming calls and the tone for messages, and on some phones you can set one for a single person. The catch is that WhatsApp only lets you choose from the sounds built into the app, so there's no uploading your own song. Here are the steps from WhatsApp's help centre for Android and iPhone, and what each setting changes.

Changing the WhatsApp call ringtone on Android

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the three dots at the top right.
2. Tap Settings, then Notifications.
3. Scroll to the Calls section and tap Ringtone.
4. Choose a ringtone from the list and tap Save or Apply.

That changes the sound for every incoming WhatsApp call. If you'd rather change the message sound, the same Notifications screen has Notification tone under the Messages section and under Groups. Menus vary by app version, so look for Ringtone or Notification tone if the layout differs a little.

Changing the WhatsApp ringtone on iPhone

On iPhone, WhatsApp's help centre says to tap Settings or your profile picture, then Notifications. There you can choose different ringtones for messages, group messages and WhatsApp calls. Just as on Android, you can only pick from the ringtones available in WhatsApp.

For message sounds in particular, the help pages say custom notification sounds are set in WhatsApp's Settings, under Notifications, where you pick an alert tone and tap Save.

Setting a WhatsApp ringtone for one contact

This is the most useful trick if you want to know who is calling without looking. On Android, the help pages give this route:

1. Open the chat with the person or group you want to customise.
2. Tap their name at the top.
3. Tap Notifications.
4. Under Message notifications, tap Notification tone, pick a sound and tap Save or Apply.
5. Under Call notifications, tap Ringtone, pick a sound and tap Save or Apply.

On newer iPhone software, the help pages say to open the chat, tap the contact's name, then tap Wallpaper and Sound, then Alert tone. Choose an alert tone and tap Save. That path is the one WhatsApp lists for iOS 16.2 voice calls, so if it doesn't appear on an older phone, the next section explains the other route.

How the iPhone Contacts app affects WhatsApp call ringtones

There's a quirk worth knowing. WhatsApp's help centre says that with iOS 12 and third-party call integration, the ringtone used for WhatsApp voice calls is the ringtone set for that person in your phone's Contacts app. To set one, open Contacts, tap the person, tap Edit, tap Ringtone, choose one and tap Done. So if a WhatsApp call from one person plays a different sound from what you chose inside WhatsApp, check their Contacts card first.

What you can't change about the WhatsApp ringtone

• You can't upload your own sound. WhatsApp says you can only choose from the ringtones available in WhatsApp.
• Group calls use a default ringtone for WhatsApp calls, and the help pages say it can't be customised.
• A phone that is set to silent or Do Not Disturb overrides whatever you choose in the app.

That last point comes from the notification help article, which explains that device settings override WhatsApp settings. If you silence WhatsApp in your phone's settings, a new ringtone won't be heard. It's worth testing by having someone call you after you've made the change.

Changing the WhatsApp message sound and conversation tones

People often search for the ringtone when they really mean the message tone. Ringtone is for calls; Notification tone (Android) or Sound and Alert tone (iPhone) is for messages. There's a third sound too. On Android, the Notifications screen has Conversation tones, which switches the little sounds for incoming and outgoing messages on or off while you're in the app. The tone you hear when the app is closed is the notification tone.

If your concern is the opposite, too much noise, the notification settings in the same menu let you mute chats, and my WhatsApp help guides point you to related settings.

Testing your new WhatsApp ringtone

Once you've chosen a sound, don't assume it worked. Ask a friend or colleague to ring you on WhatsApp, with your phone locked and WhatsApp closed, and listen. That tells you whether the app, the person's contact card and your phone's volume settings all agree. If the call comes through with the old sound, go back through the steps above one at a time rather than changing everything at once.

A custom WhatsApp ringtone for work contacts

If you use WhatsApp for clients, a distinct tone for your most important contacts is a small way to avoid missing a call that matters. Pick one clear sound for a handful of people, keep everything else on the default, and you'll know instantly when it's a client. Don't set a dozen, or you'll stop noticing the difference.

If your WhatsApp ringtone won't change

• Make sure you tapped Save or Apply after choosing the sound.
• Check you're changing the right thing: Ringtone for calls, Notification tone for messages.
• On iPhone, check the person's Contacts card as well as WhatsApp.
• Check your phone's volume and silent settings.
• Reset notification settings in WhatsApp (Notifications, then Reset notification settings) and set the tone again.

If you like tweaking the look and feel as well, I've also written about changing your WhatsApp keyboard theme. Both are personal touches that take a minute.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change my WhatsApp ringtone?

On Android, go to Settings, then Notifications, tap Ringtone under Calls and choose one. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Notifications and pick the ringtone for WhatsApp calls.

Can I use my own song as a WhatsApp ringtone?

No. WhatsApp says you can only choose from the ringtones available in WhatsApp.

Can I set a different ringtone for one contact?

Yes. Open the chat, tap the contact's name, then Notifications on Android, or Wallpaper and Sound on newer iPhone software, and pick a tone.

Can I change the ringtone for WhatsApp group calls?

No. The help pages say group calls use a default ringtone that can't be customised.

What's the difference between a ringtone and a notification tone?

A ringtone plays for incoming calls. A notification tone plays for incoming messages.